McCaskill has returned the fire during campaign events. Now McCaskill says she is launching TV ads individually targeting her potential Republican competitors — Congressman Todd Akin, former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman and businessman John Brunner.

McCaskill’s ads suggest Akin is too conservative, Brunner is not a reliable conservative and Steelman represents “more politics as usual.”

McCaskill won’t know who she will face until the Aug. 7 primary. All three Republicans have highlighted McCaskill’s ties to President Barack Obama while vowing to repeal his health care law and calling for lower government spending and taxes.